Drive mechanism



June 28, 1960 L. c. 'roBER 2,942,707

DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Oct. 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2. LAWRENCE c. roam /Nl/EWUR HUEENER, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/6 A TTO/PNEKS June 28, 1960 L.. c. ToBER 2,942,707

DRIVE MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1955 LAWRENCE C. TUBE/P TG. VVE/WOA HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WRFEL X HERZ/G Amp/VHS 5y DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Oct. 1`7, 1955, Ser. No. 541,007

Claims. (Cl. 192--15) The present invention relates to a drive mechanism and more particularly to a mechanical power linkage adapted to transmit power therethrough in a predetermined direction and to resist transmission of power in a reverse direction. It is best visualized as a mechanism for interconnecting a source of power and a driven member so as to communicate motivating force from the source of power to the driven member, to resist operation of the driven member independent of the source of power, and to Apreclude operation of the source of power by the driven member.

The instant invention is especially adapted for use in vending machines as disclosed in the prior co-pending applicationv of Spencer L. Childers and Lawrence C. Tober S.N. 465,779, filed November l, 1954, now Patent No. 2,877,924, granted March 17, 1959, and the prior co-pending application of Spencer L. Childers S.N. 489,319, filed February 21, 1955, and issued as Patent No. 2,836,326 on May 26, 1958. Therefore, in order more fully to appreciate the subject invention, a brief explanation of the vending machine of these prior applications is offered for illustrative convenience.

The vending machines referred to above provide cabinets in which are mounted magazines ldefining compartments each holding a pair of vertical stacks or columns of vendible articles in vertically staggered overlapping relation with the article in one stack in underlying supporting relation to articles thereabove. Although it has long been known to stack vendible articles in this manner as typified by the patent to Hoffman No. 1,205,094 and the patent to Hoopes et al.'No. 1,711,021, the vending or control mechanisms have received much attention in efforts to provide simpler, more dependable, accurate and economical operation.

'Ihe vending machines of the applications cited provide rocker cradles having article engaging fingers. The cradles are rockably mounted in the compartments in supporting relation to the bottles thereabove and in positive driven connectionto a control mechanism manually operated to rock the cradles to and from article vending positions. lt is significant that in both of these machines of the applications noted, positive drive is necessary to vend an article.

This is in contrast to certain vending machines of the prior art which retain articles in vertically staggered overlapped stacks but which employ article support means in the form of pivoted pendent levers or bails movable between opposite positions in supporting engagement with a lowermost article in a column of articles thereabove. Such a lever is generally releasably held in alternate such positions and when released, the articles drive the lever from a position under one column to a supporting posi- "Anited States Patent tion under the other column and in so doing permit vending of an article. Obviously, unless carefully controlled, such an arrangement enables the articles to drive the lever back and forth in rapid succession completely to vend all able for use in both types of vending machines and both insures positive dispensing, 'precludes jack."pottiilg, elects precise control during all vending "phases, vavoids reliance on the aggregate weight of articles yet to be dispensed as the motivating force, and operates lwith absolute uniformity regardless ofthe extent of reserve articles.

Accordingly, an'v object of the present invention is to pravide a drive mechanism or linkage adapted to establish driving interconnection between a source of power and a driven member for motivating the driven member upon operation of the source of power but to preclude independent motivation of the driven member 'and driving of the source of power by the .driven member.

Another object isto provide a drive mechanism particularly adapted for use in a vending machine' in which articles to be vended are releasably retained in staggered, overlapping, vertical stacks, which mechanism' provides positive, accurately controlled retaining and dispensing of such articles.

Another object is to prevent uncontrolled self-empty- -ing of a vending machine by mere impositionjof the weight of articles to be vended on article support and vending control members therefor.

Another object is to provide a drive mechanism fora vending machine which includes a driven vending control shaft operable to vend an article upon predetermined rotation of the shaft, which mechanism is locked against such rotation lofthe shaft except by positive manipulation of a prime mover therefor in a predetermined direction.

Another object is to provide a brake having controlled constricting engagement around a shaft normally precluding rotation of the shaft and releasable to permit rotation of the shaft.

Another object is to provide an arrangement for releasing the brake of the foregoing paragraph which is adjustable to accommodate brakes of varying characteristics.

Other objects are to provide improved 'elements and arrangements thereof in adevice of th'echaracter and for the purposes set forth.

These and other objects will become'more'fully .apparent upon reference to the following description. Y

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a horizontal section of a vending machin embodying the principles ofthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is a` somewhat enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on a plane having the position represented by line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, with portions in section, of a drive mechanism employed in the vending machine and embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken diametrically throughthe drive mechanism shown in Fig. 3 along a plane displaced from the plane viewed in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Y

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 7-7- of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularlyto the drawings:

A vending machine constituting an illustrative environment for the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in Fig. 1 and has an insulated cabinet 11 providing an interior compartment 12 adapted to b e l'e'-V frigerated in a manner not shown but believed well underfor obtaining access to the compartment.

the cabinet has a pair of insulated side walls 14, a rear` stood inthe The cabinet provides an opening 13 Additionally,

.the cabinet for sealing the compartment 12` and maintaining" refrigeration thereinwhen the door' is closed. The

door providesan insulated wall 22, Yan outer sheet metal wal1`23, and a space 24 lbetween Vthe insulate-d walland the'sheetmetal wall.Y Y ',f A servicedoor `3I11is mounted bymeans of, hinges 31 on'the Sheet metal walli23 of .theV door 19 over an openingy therein. "Ihejservice door'h'as a Yrecess' 32 therein for a purposesubsequently to bef described. .Although formingno essential'part 0f the present invention, a coin control mechanism 33 is mounted onftheinsulated wall 22 within the space 24'. As is well known, the coin mechanism'j preconditions the yending machine for vending operation upon receipt of a coin or coins of predetermined acceptable denomination. Y

A'support frame 40 provides a' front wall'41, a rear wll'iiz anda pair of side walls 43 interconnected in siibstantially rectangular relation. A pair of angle essere? portion 79 diametrically reduced from the shoulder. A vending control shaft 85 is rotatably journalled in the bearing sleeve 76 and provides a rear end 86 extended rearwardly of the rear wall 42 'and a forward end 87. The vending control shaft has an annular collar 88 adjacent to the forward'end thereof in abutment with the extended portion 79 and providing a longitudinally extended groove 89. The extendedportions of the bearing and the collar have substantially cylindrical peripheries of substantially the samediarneter. V

A flanged eccentric disc 9S is fitted on the rear end 86 of the vending control shaft 85 and provides-'a lrear mounting sleeve 96 secured to thebshaft bya pin97. YA pair brackets 44 are individuallyV connected to the side Walls 'Y ofthe supportY frame and are releasably'connected to the vcabinet V11 by suitable.. bolts 45' whichmount the support .fIame in the'compartment 12 vof the cabinet. A pair of v intermediate walls or partitionsv46 aremountedbetween the front-and rear walls transversely disposedin substantially parallelrelation to the side walls.

The support frame 40 thus provides a plurality of vendible article receiving compartments for descriptive con- ,Ven-ience hereinafter referred to as a left compartment 50 and a right compartment 51v having lower dischargeends. The intermediate walls-46 also provide a central space 52 therebetween.` The rear wall 42 has apairof arcuate or `kidney-shaped slots 53 at lower portions thereof so as to'provide passagewaysintogthe compartments;

A pair of vertically disposed channel members'58 are of tapered levers`98 provide lowerV driveends 99 individually pivotally connected tothe control pins 69 associated with the cradles 66 and substantially circular upper openings 100 rotatably fitted in juxtaposed relation on the eccentric disc.l A ratchet wheel 105 is tted on the mounting sleeve 96'and secured-to the eccentric disc-95 by a bolt 106. Theratchet wheelprovides a periphery having a-plurality of substantially equally spaced ratchet teeth 107 positioned in substantially right angular.v relation to each other. AVU-shaped pawl 108 is pivoted to the rear wall V42 by means of a pivot pin 109 and is adapted to ride on the periphery of the ratchet wheel for periodic engagement with the teeth thereof thereby. to restrict rotation of Vthe vending control shaft S5 toV one direction only, such direction being-clockwise as-viewed in Fig. 2.

A brake `release vbracket 115 provides .a substantially U-shaped portion .having'a'fractionally-circular mounting iiange 116 (Fig. 8) rotatablyV fittedon the'bearing shoulder 78, a fractionally-circul ai` adjusting plateV 117 having V- aV plurality ofapertures- 118'lying along an arcuate path arranged in each ofthe compartments Slland 51 and n include back portions 5 9 rigidly secured to the rearwall 42, side portions 60 forwardly extended'in'spaced substantially parallel relation, and. spaced in-turned` flanges 61.

A pair ofV rocker,- cradles 'or gates 66V are individually mounted in-substantially horizontal positions in thesupport frame 40 Vadjacent tof the discharge ends of the compartments and 51. Each cradle provides a pair ofsubstantially parallel end plates .67 having horizontally Yextended rocker pins 68 rotatably journalled respectively in the front and rear walls 41 .and 42 of the support frame. Thevend, plates are spaced apart a suicient Vdistance to permit Vpassage of the articles to be .vended therebetween. Control pins 69 are extended from the rear'end plates through their respectively'adjacent slots 53for movement ltherein to limit rocking motion of the cradlesl to predetermined desired limits. Each cradle provides-a pair of spaced angulatcd bars interconnectlughe-eudplatesand spaced apart a distance suflicient to permit passage of an article to be vended therethrough.V Y'Finger plates 7 1 are releasably securedY byv screws 72Y to V-(Fig..7) and a connecting plate119 (Fig. 4') interconnecting the mounting andV adjusting plates providing a slot 120 adjacent to the Vmounting plate. The brake release member also has a substantially L-shaped portion providing an adjusting plate 121 rotatably fit-ted on the control shaft VS5 Vagainst the adjusting plate 117. The adjusting plate 121 provides anarcuate slot 122 and a bolt 123 extended through'theslot into a selected aperture 118 together with suitable lock washers, as 124, are provided for adjustably. connecting the adjusting plates. The L-shaped portion further has a tapered Vactuatingv arm 125 perpendicularly extended from its adjusting plate in substantially/.parallel relation to' the vending control shaft.

A helical coil spring brakeiswound'in overlapping relation around the bearing sleeve extension 79 and the annular collar 88,01? the vending control shaft The spring brake has a rear end bent radially outwardly therefrom and releasably extended through thcslot'lZ in the connectingplale 119 of the' brake release member 115. The spring brake also Vhas a forward end 132 .radially'inwardly extended into the groove 89 of Vthe annular collar. As will be soon v'apparent .the end 132 need not necessarily be inserted in the groove 89for operation of the brake but such association islfound to be an assemblingconvenience.

A clutch mechanism, generally indicatedV by the numeral 140, includes a substantially cylindrical Vdriven clutch Imember or pawl V141 having a concentric'forward opening 142 and an extended sleeve 143 securely mounted on the forwardend 87 o'fthe shaft SS'by alpin-144:. The driven clutch-member provides a pair of forwardly extended -diametrically opposed carmning` pegs 145.A v A A flanged bearing'platek 150i is mounted between the v intermediate walls 46' of `the support framefrlt) in any suitable manner and a drive Vshaft v151isV journaled-in wheel 153 constituting a camming plate slidably and rotatably mounted on the drive shaft by a substantially U- shaped connecting plate 154 having longitudinally extended arms connected thereto. The drive clutch member provides a plurality of peripherally located tongues 155 constituting cammng ramps struck forwardly outwardly from drive member 153 and leaving thereby arcuate slots 156. Four slots and tongues are provided in the illustrated embodiment and these are arranged in diametn'cally opposed pairs. The connecting plate 154 has a pair of longitudinally extended slots 157. A pin 158 is transversely mounted in the drive shaft outwardly slidably engageable in the slots of the connecting plate thereby to enable turning of the drive clutch member by the drive shaft. A spring 159 is fitted around the drive shaft between the pin 153 and the drive clutch member for urging the drive member into engagement with the driven clutch member 141.

A receiver plate 165 is mounted on the forward end of the drive shaft 151 and provides a pair of outwardly extended arms 166 having axially aligned arcuate notches 167 therein. An operating shaft 170 is rotatably mounted in the door 19 and provides an inner end having a key 171 transversely mounted thereon adapted releasably to tit in the notches 167 of the receiver plate 165. A manipulating handle 172 is secured to an outer end of the vending operating shaft and located in the recess -32 of the service door 30. The operating shaft is operably associated with the coin control mechanism 33 in a manner well known in the art. It is only necessary to note that upon receipt of a coin or coins or" suitable denomination by the coin control mechanism the shaft 176 is released to be rotated a predetermined angular amount I by depressing the manipulating handle.

A plurality of vendible articles, such as bottles 175, are arranged in the compartments 50 and 51 in a pair of vertical columns in vertically staggered relation with the articles in one column being in supporting relation to articles upwardly adjacent thereto in the adjacent column. The bottles provide necks, not shown, rearwardly extended and slidably fitted between the inturned flanges 61 of the respective channel members 58. It is believed evident that the spacing between adjacent walls 43 and 46 defining each of the compartments is less than the maximum combined width of a pair of articles to be vended so that consecutive articles in each compartment are stacked closely adjacent to each other in the manner described.

Operation v The operation of the embodiment of this invention is believed to be apparent and isV described at this point. The vending machine is initially loaded with bottles 1,75, as indicated in Fig. 2, or other vendible articles, and the door 19 closed and locked in position against the cabinet 11. In order to obtain a bottle, or bottles, from the machine, a coin or coins of suitable denomination are inserted in the coin control mechanism 33, in a man- 'ner Well known in the art, thereby releasing the operating shaft 170 for a predetermined limited angular rotation by depressing the manipulating lever 172. As seen in Fig. l, the receiver vplate 165 is turned when the operating shaft is rotated and this motion is transmitted through the drive shaft 151 to the clutch mechanism 14d which is normally engaged, as illustrated.

Further, the actuating arm 125 is normally extended through one-of the slots 156 displaced 90 from the slots receiving the pegs 145. The relative location of the pegs and the actuating arm in their respective slots is such that as the drive clutch member 153 is rotated the actuating arm is engaged by the drive clutch member prior to engagement of the pegs therewith. Thus the clutch mechanism provides for delayed interconnection of the vending control shaft 85 and the drive shaft 151 incident 'to-rotation of the drive shaft. This insuresreleasetof the spring v130 prior to driving connec-v tion between the shafts and 151 so that rotatable movement can be imparted to the vending control shaft by the drive shaft.

While discussing the action of the brake release member on the brake spring 130, it is to be noted that the plates 117 and 121 are to be angularly adjusted relative to each other by the bolt 123 to correspond to the characteristics of thespring being employed. Thus, for example, if the spring lits too tightly or tooloosely on the beating sleeve 76 and the annular collar 88 of the vending control shaft 85 or if the springs employedl in such devices have opposite ends in various angular relation, it may be necessary to rotate the adjustingplate l 121,relative to the adjusting plate '117 to accommodate' such variances. In any event, with the brake spring 130 thus relieved from tight constriction around the bearing sleeve 76 and4 the shaft 85, the latter is released for rotation through the engagement of the drive clutch member 153 with the driven clutch member 141, as will be understood. This turns the eccentric 95 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. i2, to actuate the levers 9S and thereby to oscillate the cradles 66 by movement of the pins 69.

Rotation of the control shaft 8S is permitted only through a predetermined angle, this being 90 in the illustrated embodiment. The coin control mechanism 33 limits rotation of the drive shaft 151 to a slightly greater extent permitting a predetermined initial incre'` ment of travel for unlocking purposes before the control shaft is moved. At the precise instant that the control shaft 85 has turned through 90 during a single depresf sion of the manipulating lever 172, at least one of the cradles 66 has moved into a position to discharge the lowermost bottle l in its compartment 50 or 51. Simultaneously the point of contact of the article engaging fingers 73, which are then upwardly extended, with the lowermost bottle in the stack of bottles thereabove, hereinafter referred to as the bottle-finger contact'point land indicated at in Fig. 2, is brought into alignment with a line drawn from the center of such lowermost bottle to the center of the rocker pins 68 of the cradle under consideration. This line is hereinafter referred to as the support line and is indicated at 181 in Fig. 2. This relationship is illustrated inV Fig. 2 by the cradle in compartment 50. Likewise at this exact moment, the pawl 108 engages a tooth t107 on the ratchet wheel 105 to lock the control shaft against reverse rotation. i Since the manipulating lever 172 cannot be rotated any farther in a clockwise direction and since a bottle 175 has been vended, the lever 172 is released so that it can move back to its upper position. The end 131 of the spring brake 130 then urges the spring release mem# ber 115 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig.v 5, to rotate the drive clutch member 153 in a'counterclockwise direction. This slides the ramps 155 over the pegs 145, which are now held stationary by the pawl 108 until the pegs slip into slots 156 displaced 90 in a clock-v wise direction circumferentially of clutch member 153 thereby preconditioning the clutch mechanism 140 for the next depression of the manipulating lever.

Specifically, each of the cradles 80 rotates through .a cycle of operation which, with reference At0 Fig. 2, includes four. positions,pcorresponding to each 90 of rotation of the Vending control shaft 85. Thus leach cradle starts, for example, in a middle substantially horizontal position, rotates clockwise to a position inclined to the rightfthen rotates counterclockwse back to a-middle position, then continues in a counterclockwise direction to a position inclined to the left, and then rotates ina clockwise direction to return to a middleposition. In all of the positions of the rockers, the article engaging ngers 73 on one or the other or both sides of the cradles are in supporting engagement with the vlowermost bottle in. `the' stacks Aof bottles in their respective compartments 50, or 51. When the cradles move to either of their left'or right inclined positions, they are disposed to permit the lowermost bottleto pass therethrough for delivery for customer access vexteriorly of the vending machine 10. Further, in either of said left or right inclined positions, the upwardly extended article engaging lingers are in engagement with the lowermost bottle next adjacent above the bottle being vended inY the Ystack of bottles in their respective compartments.

Considering a cycle yof operation, when the manipulating .lever 172 is depressed, as above described, to rotate the cradles V66, and assuming that the cradles start from Y a position as shown in Fig. 2, the cradle of compartment 50 rotates in acounterclockwise direction to a middle position with the right fingers 73V supporting the lowermost bottle 175 in the'compartment. Simultaneously, theY cradle in 1 compartment 51Y moves from the middle position in a'counterclockwise direction to a position tilted tothe left whereby the lowermost bottle 175 in the left stack of bottles falls through the cradle and thus is vended. At the same time the right article engaging fingers move into supporting engagement with the lowermost bottle in the right stack of bottles in compartmentSl.

- During'the nextdepression of lever 172, .the cradle 66 in compartment50 moves to av position tilted to the right to vend the lowermost bottle previously supported and to bring the left fingers into supporting engagement with -the lowermost bottle in the left stack; Concurrently, the cradle in the compartment 5'1 moves in a clockwise direction to a middle position stillvhaving the fingers 73 in supporting engagement with the lowermost bottle in the right stack of bottles in compartment 51. It is 'believedy evident that successive depression of Athe lever are effective to rotate the cradles through their successive positions as kabove described alternately to discharge a bottle from the compartments and that only one bottle is discharged from only one of the compartments during a singleV depression of the lever.

Under Vnormal operation, as explained above, a single depression of the manipulating lever 172 ymoves atleast one of the cradles 66 into such a position that the bottlenger contact point 180 is in alignment with the bottle center-rocker pin center connecting line 181, or'is slightly to the left of such line, as viewed in Fig. 2. Thus, the weight of all of the bottles in compartment 50 acts as a resultant force imposed directly through the pivot axis of the cradle along the line 181. The lowermost bottle tends to wedge between the upwardly extended fingers and the adjacent wall 46 so that no amount of weight imposed on such lowermost bottle is elective to turn the rcradle in a clockwise direction, this being the direction which tends to be driven by theweight of the'bottles .'re'sted thereon, the present invention is brought into play.

Assumerthat a clockwise torque, as viewed'in Fig. 8, for example, is imposedon the vending control Vshaft 85. It is to be noted that the pawl 107 and ratchet wheel 105, and the clutch mechanism 140 do not act to prevent rotation in this direction. Rotation of shaft 8S in a clockwise direction imposes a torsional force on the end 132 of the spring. brake 130 in the groove v89 of the annular collar 88 thereby to tighten or constrict the spring around the. collar. Frici tional engagement of the spring on the collar has the same effect. The opposite end 131.0f the spring'is held relatively stationary on the bearing sleeve 76, because of its connection'to the release member 115 which in' turn is held against clockwise movement by the clutch mechaA nism 149. irl-elicot, therefore, the opposite ends of the spring are twisted in opposite directions to clamp the 51 bearing on the fingers V73 at the leftgof the cradle 66 therein is ineffective to turn such cradle and therebythe cradle ,in compartment 50 through the interconnectingV the-pins 69, 'levers' 98 and eccentric 9S. With' this in Y mind," therefore,1 it will be understood that during normal operation of the vending machine'thev bottles cannot'drive thecradlessuccessively to'thei'r vending positions merely Y by impositionof the weight'ot` the bottlesonthecradles` and thatvthe only wayin which the cradles can'be placed in vending position is through the positiveY action initiated byfpressing the manipulating lever 172 as previously described.

YfHoweverfif someone tampers with the machine by manually trying to force the rockers to oscillate without depositing a'suitablecoin, or if the drive mechanism is .utilizedwith' a dilerent type of dispensing ymechanism` Vadapted to interconnect a source ofpower and a driven spring tightly onto the collar 88, and bearing 76 thus to prevent rotation of the vending control shaft. It is to be noted that it is not absolutely necessary that the end 132 of the spring be connected to shaft 85 sincev it is found that sufficient friction exists between the spring and the collarV to tighten thev spring against the collar inci dent to clockwise rotation of the vending control shaft whenthe brake release member is fheld stationary.

Upon subsequent deposit of a proper'coin and operation of the lever 172, the end 1,31 of the spring is carried by the bracket 115 in unwinding direction during initial rotation of the shaft 151, so that lby .the time the pins reach the ends of the slots 156 to establish driving connection with the shaft 85, the spring is-expanded sufciently to permit unimpeded turning oir-the bearing sleeve 7-6. Y

Although the invention has been herein shown and' cluding a bearing mounted in the support, a driveneshaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, an elongated coil spring wound around the bearing and the shaft having an end outwardly extended adjacent -to the bearing, the shaft normally being held against rotatable movement in a predetermined direction in the bearing Yby constriction of Vthe spring therearound, a spring release member including a flange rotatably mounted on the bearing and connected to the end of the spring and an arm extended longitudif nally of the shaft, said release member being adapted to expand the Vspring incident to rotation of the release member, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in support, and a clutch mechanism including a driven clutch member connected to the ldriven shaft and a driving'clutch member connected to the drive shaft, the driving clutch member being successively Aengageable with the extended' arm ofthe spring release member and wit-h the drivenclutch member incident Vto rotation of the drive sha-ft thereby initially to rotate the release lmember to expand the spring thereby freeing the drivenrs-haft for rotation whereby subsequent interengagement of the drive and driven members effects rotation of the driven shaft by the Vdrive shaft. Y 2. In rcombination Vwith, a support, a drive linkage mechanism so as to communicate motivating 'force'from the source of power to the mechanism butto preclude ini 'f dependent operation of the source of powerby said mecha-l nism comprising a-drive shaft rotatably mounteddn the 9 support adapted for connection to said source of power; a bearing mounted in the support; a driven shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing in coaxial alignment with the drive shaft having a substantially cylindrical collar of substantially the same -diameter as the bearing and endwardly adjacent to the bearing, the driven shaft being adapted for connection to said driven mechanism to drive such mechanism in response to rotation of the driven shaft in a predetermined direction; an elongated coil spring frictionally wound around the bearing and the collar in helical progression therearound in the same direction of rotation from the bearing to the collar as said predetermined direction for construction on the collar, the spring having an end extended outwardly adjacent to the bearing; a bracket rotatably mounted on the bearing connected to said end of the spring for unwinding the spring incident to rotation of the 4bracket in said predetermined direction; and a clutch including drive and driven members respectively connected to the drive and driven shafts land lreleasably connected to each other for imparting rotation in said predetermined direction to the driven shaft incident to rotation of the drive shaft after a predetermined increment of rotation of the drive shaft, the drive clutch member being engageable with the bracket during said initial rotation of the drive shaft for rotating the bracket to unwind the spring thereby to precondition the driven shaft for rotation by the drive shaft.

3. In combination, a support; a substantially cylindrical sleeve bearing mounted in the support; a driven shaft journaled in lthe bearing having a substantially cylindrical collar rigidly thereon adjacent to the bearing and of substantially the same `diameter as the bearing; a brake release member having a substantially U-s=haped portion providing longitudinally spaced, parallel, substantially radial, mounting and adjusting plates individually rotatably tted on the driven shaft, said mounting and adjusting plates being joined by an axially extended connecting plate, and the brake release member also including a substantially L-shaped portion providing a substantially radial adjusting plate rotatably fitted on the driven shaft and angularly adjustably secured to the adjusting plate of the U-shaped portion and an axially extended actuating arm extended from the adjusting plates in substantially parallel relation to the shaft in a direction away from the bearing; an elongated coil spring consti` tuting a brake wound around the bearing'and the collar on the driven shaft between the plates of the U-shaped portion of the brake release member adapted to be constricted on the collar thereby to brake rotation of the driven shaft in a predetermined direction, the spring having an end connected to the U-shaped portion of the brake release member and being wound in helical progr'ession lfrom the bearing to the collar in said predetermined direction of rotation; a driven clutch member mounted on the driven shaft; a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the support coaxially of the driven shaft; and a drive clutch member connected to the drive shaft releasably engageable with the actuating arm of the brake release member for rotating lthe brake release member in said predetermined direction incident to initial rotation of the drive shaft to expand the spring and precondition the driven shaft for rotation in said predetermined direction, the drive clutch member being engageable with the driven clutch member after said initial rotation of the drive shaft for imparting rotational movement to the driven shaft.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein pegs are rigidly endwardly extended from the driven clutch member toward the drive clutch member in substantially parallel relation to the driven shaft and in substantially equally spaced relation circumferentially of the driven member; wherein the drive clutch memberv includes a plurality of arcuate slots in substantially equally spaced relation circumferentially of the drive member corresponding in number and spacing to the pegs, the drive clutch ntembef further having camming ramps extended endwardly out-Y wardly from the drive clutch member away from the driven clutch member, each of the ramps being extended in the same direction circumferentially of the drive clutch member, the camming ramps being individually forwardly adjacent to the slots with reference to said predetermined direction of rotation whereby upon rotation of the drive clutch member in said predetermined direction, the pegs extend into the slots and engage the drive clutch member, the arm of the brake release member being extended into one ofthe slots of the drive clutch member for engagement by the drive clutch member during rotation thereof prior to engagement of the drive clutch member with the pegs, and whereby upon rotation of the drive clutch member opposite to said predetermined direction of rotation the pegs and the arm slidably ride against the camming ramps for free and independent rotation of the drive shaft relative to the driven shaft; and including means mounted on the drive shaft yieldably urging the drive clutch member toward the driven clutch member. i

5. ln combination ywith a support, a control mechanism comprising a bearing rigidly mounted in the support, a driven shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, an elongated substantially tubular brake mounted in circumscribing overlapping relation on the shaft and the bearing normally frictionally constricted around the shaft and the bearing for resisting rotation of the shaft relative to Y the bearing, a brake release member rotatably borne by the support for rotation about an axis concentric to the driven shaft and connected to the brake for releasing the brake from constriction around the shaft incident to rotation of the release member so as to permit rotation of the shaft, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the support, and means releasably connecting both the driven shaft and the brake release member to the drive shaft for rotating said release member to release the brake upon initial rotation of the drive shaft and 4for rotating the driven shaft upon further rotation of the drive shaft.

6. A drive linkage comprising a support; a bearing; means mounting the bearing in the support and holding the bearing against movement relative to the support, the bearing having an extended end providing an outwardly disposed substantially cylindrical periphery concentricallyl thereof; a driven shaft having a longitudinal axis of rota-v tion, coaxially journaled in the bearing, and having an enlarged end extended from said end of the bearing, the enlarged end of the driven shaft having a'cylindrical periphery continuous with the periphery of the bearing; a rotatable drive shaft having a longitudinal axis of rotation; means rotatably mounting the drive shaft in the support in axial alignment with the Ydriven shaft; means connected to the drive shaft for oscillating the drive shaft about its axis of rotation; clutch means for interconnecting the drive shaft and the driven shaft and providing driving interconnection thereof only after a predetermined initial increment of rotation of the drive shaft in a predetermined direction; a helical spring frictionally circumscribing the peripheries of the end of the bearing and the enlarged end of the driven shaft for constriction thereon, said spring having an end on the bearing and an opposite end on the driven shaft and being wound in helical progression about said peripheries in the opposite direction of rotation from the shaft end to the bearing end from said predetermined direction of rotation from the shaft end yto the bearing end from said predetermined direction of rotation of the drive shaft, .the shaft end of the spring being connected to the driven shaft; and means rotatably journaled on the bearing for rotation about said axis and having an extended end portion connected to the end of the spring on the bearing and an opposite end portion engageable with the clutch means during said initial increment of rotation of the drive shaft to unwind a portion of the spring during said initial increment of rotation and thereby to allow the drive shaft to rotate the driven shaft upon further rotation of the drive shaft.

anda ratchet wheel connected to the drive shaft and` having a pair of circumferentially spaced slots, one of the slotsrloosely receiving thepawl so that an initial increment of rotation ofthe drive shaft is required before the Wheel engages the pawlgsa brake releasably engaging the slipportand the driven shaft to resist rotation of the driven shaft independently of the drive shaft; and brake release 'means rotatably carried by the Vdriven shaft having an arm loosely extended into the other ofthe slots in the ratchet'wheel and aflange connected to the brake, said brake release means being operable upon rotation thereofV to release the brake, the Iwheel engaging theV arm during said initial increment of rotation of the drive shaft and :before engagement of the wheel and the paWl to A rotate said means and release the brake from engagement with the driven shaft'thereby to permitrotation of the driven shaftby the drive shaft upon further rotation of said drive shaft.

l V8. In combination, a support, a drive mechanism including a bearing mountedin the support, a driven shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, an elongated coil spring Wound around the bearing and lthe'shaft having an end outwardly extended adjacent tov the bearing, the shaft 1 normally Vbeing held againstV rotatable movement in a predetermined direction in the bearing by constriction of the spring Atherearound, a spring release member including a Aflange rotatably mounted on the driven shaft and connected to the end of the spring and an arm extended longitudinally of the shaft, said release Vmember being adapted to expand the spring incident to rotation of the Y Vrelease member, and a clutchV mechanism including a driven clutch member connected to the driven shaft and a driving clutch member connected to the drive shaft, Vthe driving clutch member being successively engageable with the extended arm of the spring release member and with the driven clutch member incident to rotation of the drive shaft thereby initially to rotate the release member relative to the spring thereby freeing the ldriven shaft for rotation whereby subsequent interengagement of the drive and driven members effects rotation of the driven shaft by the drive shaft.

9. In combination, a support, a 'bearing mounted in the support, a driven shaft having a longitudinal axis of rotation and being rotatably mounted Vin the support bearingrfor rotation about said axis, an elongated coil spring Wound around the bearing 'and the shaft having an end adjacent to the bearing and an opposite end connected to the'shaft, the shaft beingnormally held against rotatable movement in a predetermined ldirection in the support by constriction of the spring around the bearing and the shaft, a spring release member rotatably borne.

beaver I2 Y Iby the bearing for rotation about the ofthe shaft, the release member having a flange connected toV the endof the spring adjacent to the bearing andan arm extended longitudinally ,of the shaft, said release member `being adapted to expand the spring incident to rotation of the release member about said axis, a drive,V shaft rotatably mounted in the support, and a clutch mechanism including a driven clutch member connected to the drivenY shaft and a driving clutch member connected to the drive shaft, the driving clutch member being successively engageable with the, extendednarm of the spring release member and with the driven clutch member incident to Yrotation of the drive shaft thereby initially to rotate the release member Vto expand` the spring and thereby freeing the driven shaftvr for rotation Wherebytsubsequent in'terengagement of the drive and'dliven memb'erseffects rotation of the driven shaft by the drive shaft.

' l0. In combination,"asupport, a drive Ymechanisrnincluding a ybearing mounted in the support, a driven shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing, `an elongated tubular diametn'cally expansible and contraotible `brake means circumscribingV the bearing and thev shaft so that the shaft is normally held against rotatable movement in a predetermined direction in thelbearing'by contraction of the brake means therear'ound, a brake release member includinga flange rotatably mountedV on ,the bearing and connected to the brake means for expanding the ybrake means incident to Vrotation of the flange on the bearing in said predetermined direction, the brake release member also`including an arm extended'longi tudinally of the shaftfa drive shaft rotatably mounted in the support, andV aclutch Vmechanism including a driven clutch member vconnected to the' driven shaft and a driving clutch member connected' to Ythe drive shaft, the `driving clutch member being successively' engageable with the rextended end .ofthe brake release member and with the driven clutch'Y member incident to rotation of the drive shaft thereby initially to rotate the release member to expand the brake means and thereby freeing the Vdriven shaft for rotation wherebyV subsequent interengagement of the drive and driven members effects rotation ofthe driven shaft by the drive shaft.

References Cited inthe file ofv this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Iungles Mar. 5, 

